Pre-measured beverage production package

ABSTRACT

A single-cup pod beverage production container is presented using a pod containing coffee grounds, tea leaves or other soluble or partially-soluble substances, surrounded by filter paper and supported for easy handling by stiffening the periphery of the pod and adding a finger grip area. The pod periphery may also be provided with indicia in various forms to indicate various information relating to the pod container and its contents such as the composition of its contents, the coffee making machine(s) with which the pod container is compatible, or information relating to the production of the pod container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hot and/or cold beverage production, ingeneral. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use bya beverage production machine of a pod container of pre-measuredingredients to batch produce a beverage, such as coffee or tea,typically in a single serving sized batch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART

Many beverage production machines have been used in endeavoring toprovide a means to automatically produce beverages. In most cases, theeffort has been directed to large batches of coffee grounds, tea leavesor other solubles and brewables for multiple serving sized batches. Morerecently, apparatus have been developed to produce smaller batches,typically one or two servings in size.

It is known that packaging the brewable or soluble ingredients into apre-measured container makes possible simpler apparatus and moreconsistent beverage production. Such beverage production packages arereferred to as pods, pillows, cups, sachets or capsules. An example of aknown pod is shown in FIG. 1. A pod 11 is constructed simply, comprisinga circular upper sheet 12 and a circular lower sheet 13, peripherallybonded along a seam 14 to define and seal a containment volume, orenclosure, 15 in which the brewable ingredients are contained. The brewapparatus must handle the soft pod carefully. After use, the pod 11 isweak, wet and hot, and users do not typically wish to handle it fordisposal. This package also cannot carry point-of-use graphics, such asa label identifying the brand and type of coffee, or carryingadvertising.

Other pre-measured container configurations exist, both proprietaryand/or patented and generally known to the art. These container designsattempt to address various demonstrated or perceived weaknesses in thepod shown in FIG. 1. Often they do so only at the expense of creatingweaknesses in another area. U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,202, issued to EricFavre, describes a metal capsule design which simplifies the handling ofthe container by the apparatus and the user. This container is notbiodegradable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention achieves the goal of containing a variable volumeof brewable, soluble ingredients in an easily handled “coffee card”typically constructed primarily of paper and/or other bio-renewable andrecyclable products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 1 a respectively illustrate plan and side elevation views ofa known beverage production pod, commonly known as a “pillow” or “pod”.These are commonly constructed of filter paper and contain from 6-14grams of brewable ingredients.

FIGS. 2 and 2 a respectively illustrate plan and side elevation views ofone embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 3 a respectively illustrate plan and side elevation views ofanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4 and 4 a respectively illustrate plan and side elevation views ofyet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a beverage production package containing notchand perforated keying in accordance with yet another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a beverage production package containing uniqueshape keying in accordance with still another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a beverage production package containing barcode data in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a beverage production package in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention which is compatiblewith an automatic feed system.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a multi-dose beverage production packagecompatible with an automatic feed system in accordance with stillanother embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The pre-measured container design of the present invention optimizesseveral variables. It is made of low-cost renewable materials and iseasily assembled with as few parts as possible. It contains a flexiblepre-measured amount of brewable product. It is capable of enduring therigors of hot-water beverage production. It efficiently filters theinsoluble brewed product from the brew effluent. Both new and expendedcontainers are easy for people to handle manually. The container is alsoeasy for the brew mechanism to handle. It is capable of carrying graphicimages or symbology, visible to the user, on the container surface(s).It is also non-toxic, biodegradable, easily recycled or disposed of.

FIGS. 2 and 2 a respectively illustrate plan and side elevation views ofa “coffee card” pre-measured beverage production package 21 constructedwith a circular upper sheet 22 and a circular lower sheet 23, each 60millimeters in diameter and formed of a suitable filtration media,sealed along the periphery 24 to a stiff, rectangular planar card 25,suitably perforated in the center 26, measuring 80 millimeters by 100millimeters in one embodiment. The filter element is preferably madefrom lightweight heat-sealable paper of cellulosic or other fibers. Thebonding may be accomplished by applying heat and pressure to the sealarea. The space 27 between the upper sheet 22 and lower sheet 23contains twelve grams of loosely-packed fine drip ground coffee.

In use, the “coffee card” is clamped between an upper and lower brewchamber which, when closed, seal around the periphery 24 of the card.Brew water is introduced through the top chamber and drains from thebottom brew chamber.

FIGS. 3 and 3 a are respectively plan and side elevation views of a“shot card” pre-measured beverage production package 31 constructed witha square upper sheet 32 and a square lower sheet 33, each 45 millimeterson a side and formed of a suitable filtration media, sealed along theperiphery 34 to a stiff, rectangular planar card 35, suitably perforatedoff-center 36, measuring 65 millimeters by 85 millimeters. The space 37between the upper sheet 32 and lower sheet 33 contains 8 grams oftightly-packed espresso ground coffee in one embodiment.

FIGS. 4 and 4 a are respectively plan and side elevation views of a“long handle” pre-measured beverage production package 41 constructedwith a rectangular upper sheet 42 and a rectangular lower sheet 43, 60by 80 millimeters in size and formed of a suitable filtration media,sealed along a portion of the periphery 44 and 45 to a stiff, oblongplanar card 46, with one end 47 suitably shaped to receive the sheets 42and 43, with outer dimensions of 80 millimeters by 200 millimeters. Thespace 48 between the upper sheet 42 and lower sheet 43 contains 15 gramsof loosely-packed fine drip ground coffee.

FIG. 5 illustrates a pre-measured beverage production package 51 withnotches 52 along one or more locations along the periphery 53 of thepackage and perforations 54 at several locations 55 in the field of theplanar card 56 component of the package. The purpose of this is toprovide a way of keying a specific set of pods to a specific set ofbeverage production machines.

In use, a beverage production mechanism would sense the notch(es) orperforation(s), or both, to determine if the keying is compatible.

FIG. 6 illustrates a pre-measured beverage production package 61 with aplurality of unique polygon keying cutouts 63 along the periphery 62 ofthe package in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention. The purpose of this to provide a way of keying a specific setof pods to a specific set of beverage production machines.

In use, a beverage production mechanism would only accept this uniqueshape of package.

FIG. 7 illustrates a pre-measured beverage production package 71 with abar code 72 in one or more locations in the field of the planar card 73component of the package.

In use, the beverage production mechanism reads the bar code data, whichprovides keying of the package to a brewer or specific set of beverageproduction machines; keying to alter the production cycle; or keying todeliver or control delivery of messaging content to the person producingthe container.

FIG. 8 illustrates a pre-measured production package 81 with notches 82along one edge 83 of the package and perforations 84 at a plurality oflocations 85 in the field of the planar card 86 component proximate tothe edge 87 of the package. The purpose of this is to facilitatemechanically advancing or indexing by the beverage production mechanism.

FIG. 9 illustrates a pre-measured production package 91 with notches 92along opposing edges 93 of the package and ganged together in a stripwith a plurality of other pre-measured production packages. The purposeof this is to facilitate producing several production packages insequence without reloading the beverage production mechanism.

For convenience, specific features of the invention are shown in somedrawings but not others, as some features may be combined with any orall of the other features in accordance with the invention.

Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are withinthe following claims.

1. A beverage production package for use with a beverage formingmachine, said beverage production package comprising: first and secondfilters formed of a soft, water permeable material and each havingrespective first and second recessed portions; and a generally flatsemi-rigid member having an aperture therein, wherein said first andsecond filters are attached in a sealed manner to opposed first andsecond surfaces of said semi-rigid member and are disposed about theaperture in said semi-rigid member, with said first and second recessedportions of said first and second filters in facing relation so as toform an enclosure on said semi-rigid member, wherein said enclosure isadapted to receive a pre-measured portion of soluble or partiallysoluble brewable ingredients.
 2. The beverage production package recitedin claim 1, wherein said semi-rigid member facilitates human handling.3. The beverage production package recited in claim 1, wherein saidsemi-rigid member facilities mechanical conveying or indexing.
 4. Thebeverage production package recited in claim 1, wherein said semi-rigidmember protects the pre-measured portion of brewable ingredients.
 5. Thebeverage production package recited in claim 1, wherein the beverageproduction package is reusable in whole or in part.
 6. The beverageproduction package recited in claim 1, wherein said filters and saidsemi-rigid member are comprised of bio-degradable materials.
 7. Thebeverage production package recited in claim 1, wherein said filters andsaid semi-rigid member are comprised of renewable source materials. 8.The beverage production package recited in claim 1 further comprisingkeying indicia disposed on said semi-rigid member for uniquelyidentifying the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure.
 9. Thebeverage production package recited in claim 1 further comprising keyingindicia on said semi-rigid member in the form of a number ofperforations in, or in the location of perforations on, said semi-rigidmember for uniquely identifying the brewable ingredients in thepackage's enclosure.
 10. The beverage production package recited inclaim 1 further comprising keying indicia on said semi-rigid member inthe form of a number of notches in, or in the location of notches on, atleast one edge of said semi-rigid member for uniquely identifying thebrewable ingredients in the package's enclosure.
 11. The beverageproduction package recited in claim 1 further comprising graphic imagesand/or human or machine readable symbology disposed on said semi-rigidmember for uniquely identifying the brewable ingredients in thepackage's enclosure.
 12. The beverage production package recited inclaim 1 further comprising means disposed on said semi-rigid member tofacilitate mechanical conveying or indexing of the brewable ingredientsin the package's enclosure.
 13. The beverage production package recitedin claim 1, wherein a plurality of the pre-measured beverage productionpackages are coupled together to form a strip or a sheet.
 14. Thebeverage production package of claim 1 further comprising coupling meansdisposed on said semi-rigid member adapted for coupling to a semi-rigidmember of another beverage production package for forming a strip ofplural connected beverage production packages.
 15. A package for use informing a beverage comprising: first and second filters formed of asoft, water permeable material and including first and second innerrecessed portions, respectively; and a generally flat semi-rigid memberhaving an open section therein defined by at least two spaced portionsof said semi-rigid member, with said first and second recessed portionsdisposed in facing relation to one another and subtending said at leasttwo spaced portions so as to form an enclosure on said semi-rigidmember, wherein said enclosure is adapted to receive a pre-measuredportion of soluble or partially soluble brewable ingredients; whereinsaid semi-rigid member further includes a handle extending from said twospaced portions of said semi-rigid member, wherein said handle isadapted for manually grasping.
 16. The package recited in claim 15,wherein said semi-rigid member protects the pre-measured portion ofbrewable ingredients.
 17. The package recited in claim 15, wherein thebeverage production package is reusable in whole or in part.
 18. Thepackage recited in claim 15, wherein said filters and said semi-rigidmember are comprised of bio-degradable materials.
 19. The packagerecited in claim 15, wherein said filters and said semi-rigid member arecomprised of renewable source materials.
 20. The package recited inclaim 15 further comprising keying indicia disposed on said semi-rigidmember for uniquely identifying the brewable ingredients in thepackage's enclosure.
 21. The package recited in claim 15 furthercomprising graphic images and/or human or machine readable symbologydisposed on said semi-rigid member for uniquely identifying the brewableingredients in the package's enclosure.
 22. The package recited in claim15 further comprising means disposed on said semi-rigid member tofacilitate mechanical conveying or indexing of the brewable ingredientsin the package's enclosure.